Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Preview and Odds - 09/19/2026

Game Time: 4:10 pm ET, Saturday, September 19, 2026

Venue:  Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Red Sox +117, Rays -142; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Red Sox +115, Rays -135; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Red Sox +115, Rays -135; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Boston Red Sox:  83-70 (3rd place, AL East)

Tampa Bay Rays:  93-59 (1st place, AL East)

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Boston Red Sox:  5-5 last 10

Tampa Bay Rays:  8-2 last 10

The Red Sox are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Texas Rangers 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with an 83-70 record overall and have a road record of 45-33. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Saturday with the series opener still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 10th in the MLB with a .722 OPS. Ranger Suarez is their starting pitcher on Friday while Brayan Bello is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 6-7 with a 4.74 ERA this season. His team lost 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 0 ER, 0 HR, and 0 BB with 2 SO on 0 hits through 1.2 IP against the Texas Rangers.

The Rays are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Athletics 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 93-59 record overall and have a home record of 53-25. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Red Sox on Saturday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 6th in the MLB with a .735 OPS. Ian Seymour is their starting pitcher on Friday while Freddy Peralta is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 9-11 with a 4.67 ERA this season. His team won their last 4 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts on 0 hits through 5 innings pitched against the Houston Astros.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Red Sox have looked good in their games this season with their 83-70 record overall which has them right in the middle of the AL East. They have been a good road team too with their 45-33 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Rays have looked great in their games this season with their 93-59 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL East with one of the best records in MLB. They have looked great in their own ballpark too with their 53-25 home record this season. The Rays have one of the best home records in MLB this season and they have been rolling lately too. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games while the Red Sox are only 5-5 in their last 10 games, coming off a series loss to the Rangers. The Red Sox have definitely cooled off since their really hot stretch, but they aren't playing with a ton of motivation at the moment. They are pretty safe with a big lead in the Wild Card over the last team in a spot and they are pretty out of reach of the division at this point. They are just coasting to the playoffs now, looking to stay healthy, and they aren't going to have their best option on the mound here. The Rays are going with Peralta in this one and he hasn't looked great this season. He is 9-11 with a 4.67 ERA, but he has also looked a lot better lately. He is coming off a great start giving up no runs which has been becoming a common theme for him lately and the team has been having a ton of success with him too, winning 4 games in a row now with him starting. The Rays have already clinched a playoff spot, but they are still fighting to win the AL East over the Yankees and they have a chance to finish the season with the best record in MLB too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game. 

Red Sox Rays Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, September 19, 2026 (4:10 pm ET start time) is Rays 5 Red Sox 3.

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Boston Red Sox: 131-113 (+21.2 units) on the moneyline in road games. 130-113 (+18.1 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 81-74 (+6.4 units) on the moneyline against division opponents. 30-18 UNDER against division opponents.

Tampa Bay Rays: 70-78 (-6.7 units) on the moneyline against division opponents. 161-154 (-9.3 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .330 or worse. 101-121 (-13.3 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 29-17 UNDER when playing against a team with a winning record.

Boston Red Sox:  A. Chapman (RP) Day To Day - Lat. W. Contreras (1B) Day To Day - Hand. A. Seigler (2B) Ten Day IL - Right wrist. E. White (CF) Ten Day IL - Foot. C. Rafaela (CF) Ten Day IL - Quadriceps. E. Rivera (SP) Sixty Day IL - Back. T. Guerrero (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. J. Slaten (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. M. Yoshida (DH) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. C. Mead (3B) Ten Day IL - Hand. Z. Kelly (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. G. Crochet (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. K. Crawford (SP) Sixty Day IL - Wrist. T. Casas (1B) Sixty Day IL - Knee. J. Oviedo (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Houck (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Tampa Bay Rays:  T. Wells (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. J. Melton (LF) Sixty Day IL - Hamstring. G. Cleavinger (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. S. McClanahan (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. M. Rodriguez (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Back. B. Williamson (2B) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. J. Heasley (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. G. Lux (LF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. R. Pepiot (SP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. E. Uceta (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

“He's been great. He's got a hit in every game but one. That was a hell of an at-bat against a really good pitcher in a really big spot and a huge swing. Obviously needed a win, but all the credit to him. You’re one pitch away in a spot like that, where he can change a game, like we saw it numerous times in the second half of last year. So, like I said, it was a massive swing.” - Chad Tracy on Trevor Story after his team’s win against the Rangers in their game on Thursday.

“A lot of big at-bats that inning, for sure.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s win against the A’s in their game on Thursday. 

Roman Anthony (L) LF

Nick Sogard (S) 1B

Jahmai Jones (R) DH

Wilyer Abreu (L) RF

Trevor Story (R) SS

Caleb Durbin (R) 3B

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 2B

Nate Eaton (R) CF

Connor Wong (R) C

Yandy Díaz (R) DH

Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B

Junior Caminero (R) 3B

Ryan Vilade (R) 2B

Chandler Simpson (L) LF

Jonny DeLuca (R) CF

Nick Fortes (R) C

Victor Mesa Jr. (L) RF

Taylor Walls (S) SS

Batting Average:  Jake Rogers (.500)

Hits:  Ceddanne Rafaela (151)

Home Runs:  Willson Contreras (27)

RBI:  Willson Contreras (81)

Stolen Bases:  Jarren Duran (19)

Wins:  Sonny Gray (17)

Saves:  Aroldis Chapman (34)

ERA:  Alec Gamboa (1.21)

Batting Average:  Chandler Simpson (.311)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (173)

Home Runs:  Junior Caminero (41)

RBI:  Junior Caminero (96)

Stolen Bases:  Chandler Simpson (44)

Wins:  Drew Rasmussen (15)

Saves:  Bryan Baker (40)

ERA:  Tyler Wells (1.50)

Managers:

Boston Red Sox: Chad Tracy (Interim)

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (12th season)